The Oohlas are an LA trio built around their charismatic frontwoman, Olivia Stone. Though drummer Greg Eklund played for years with Everclear, this combo's sound is indebted to late-1980s alternative acts such as Belly, the Breeders, Throwing Muse, Veruca Salt and the Blake Babies -- a golden era for female-fronted guitar acts. The Oohlas released Best Stop Pop in 2006 through Stolen Transmission, and are at work on the follow-up as we speak. If you're wondering about kindred spirits, the trio's bright, energetic blasts of jangle-rock have shared stages with the Raveonettes, Sean Lennon, and Giant Drag.

Interview with Olivia Stone

What's the coolest thing you've done during the past year as a result of your music career?

Having our own TV special on DirectTV was pretty sweet. But hugging and drinking tequila with Jay-Z was just about the greatest thing ever.

What are the biggest upsides and downsides to the changes to the industry wrought by technological changes in the past few years?

I haven't figured out yet if this is a good or bad thing, but rock stars are broker than they used to be. Holy shit. Let's just say, back in the day, major labels would have like 10 bands or artists a year and that was the big musical offering to the general public, and some would be the biggest thing in the world or not be. Now there is AFI and 900 bands that sound like a retard version of AFI and they all have a voice and merch via social networking websites. I haven't figured out yet if this is a good or bad thing, but rockstars are broker than they used to be.

What's the best show you've ever seen?

My memory does not serve me well in this area. From current memory, though, I'd say an acoustic Spiritualized show. He still had a production of musical staff but no electric guitars. One of his songs was a medley with a cover of Elvis's “Fools Rush In," in tear-jerking fashion, and the show overall -- with its harmonies and voices and strings meshed and melded together -- was breathtaking perfection. It was kick-ass to see it in a tiny old movie theater here in Los Angeles, too. I've had the pleasure of seeing Lou Reed perform Berlin in its entirety, the way he felt it should be seen, and it immediately made it my favorite record of his. I cried nearly every song. I happy-cry a lot. The high point was “Sad Song." Fucking wow.

What's the most nightmarish thing that's happened on tour?

I left our guarantee for a show on a bar counter while talking to a boy I wanted to practice making babies with. Cry. And not a happy-cry.